Fastening for the lids to the manholes in catch-basins.



J. ARMSTRONG & A. F. SMITH.

FASTENING FOR THE LIDS TO THE MANHOLES IN GATGH BASINS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH (in-,WASHINUTON. D"C- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ARMSTRONG AND ARTHUR IE. SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FASTENING FOR THE LIDS TO THE MANHOLES IN OATCI-I-EASINS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES ARMSTRONG and ARTHUR F. SMITH, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for the Lids to the Manholes in Catch-Basins; and we do hereby declare that the following is a clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The objects of the invention are: First, to not only prevent the unauthorized opening of the lid to the manholes in the covering plate to catch-basins, but also to prevent the same from becoming loosened, and a source of danger to pedestrians. Second, to afford a continued safety brace and lock to any form of closure.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, such as will be first fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1, is an isometric view of the covering plate to a catch-basin, showing the lid in place and a portion of the lid broken away to show the manhole. Fig. 2, is a similar view of the covering plate and lid in a reversed position, and the invention applied to the lid. Fig. 3, is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the covering plate, taken on the line w, w, on Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the grooved portion of the plate for the eccentric cam, taken on the line 1, y, on Fig. 2, showing the cam in a locked and in dotted lines theunlocked position thereof. Fig. 5, is a view in perspective of the key for locking and unlocking the lid fastening. Fig. 6, is a longitudinal, sectional view of an old form of covering plate to the basin, showing a modification. Fig. 7, is an outer, side view of the lug and the eccentric cam, as seen in Fig. 6. Fig. 8,'is a longitudinal, sectional view of the invention as seen in Fig. 3, showing a modification of the lid.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates the covering plate for a catch-basin, which basins are located in general at the corners of streets, and into which the water from the street is permitted to fall and thus be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Serial No. 767,350.

conveyed to the principal drainage or sewer pipes beneath the surface of the ground. The covering plate 10 is made as seen, of considerable length, and cast usually in piece with a longitudinal straight edge portion 12, andwith end portions 141 at right angles thereto, which extend a short distance rearwardly from said edge, and from said end-portions the rear portion of the plate is made in a single outwardly-curved line, as at 15. In this plate 10, at a point intermediate the ends 14, is a circular opening 16, of the proper dimensions to enable the entrance of the body of a person intrusted in the duty of inspecting the sewer. As seen, from the upper surface of the plate 10, the sides 17, of the manhole 16, are inclined downwardly and inwardly, and to a point about twice the distance in the direction of the lower surface of the plate 10, at which point is a circular, inwardly-extended flange 18.

The lid 20 is circular in form, and its outer surface for a short distance from the line of the upper surfaces downwardly and inwardly inclined, and below said inclined surfaces is a rabbet 21, the lid fitting quite closely the inclined surface 17, of the opening 16 and the rabbet 18, the lower surface of the lid being in the same plane as the inner surface of the plate 10. Upon the inner surface of the lid are secured rigidly the staples 22 and 28, which are located a short distance inwardly from the line of the rabbet 18 and in line with each other and the line of the diameter of the lid, the opening in the shaft being oppositely located.

Upon the lower surface of the covering plate 10 is a flange 24, which extends from the line of the forward edge 12 rearwardly in line with the end-portions 14, and at a point a short distance inwardly from the lines of said portions of the plate 10.

In the setting of the plate 10 in position above the catch-basin, the sides of the basin (not shown) extend upwardly and around the outer surface of the flange 24,-, the upper surface of the plate being in line with the sists of alongitudinal spring rod or bar 25, preferably made of steel, and circular in cross-section. One end 26, of the bar, is made of reduced circumference or cone shape. Upon the other end of the rod or bar is an eccentric cam 27, secured rigidly thereto, at a point a short distance inwardly from said end. This cam as shown is a rectangular block of metal, having a square opening 28 adjacent one longitudinal surface. The corners of the eccentric portions of the block are rounded at 29, the portion 29*, in contact with the depressed portion in the groove being slightly flattened. The outer end of the rod or bar 25 is rectangular in cross-section, as at 30, and this portion of the rod or bar is extended within the opening 28, of the cam. In the lower surface of the plate 10, at a point equi-distant from the ends 14 of the plate, and inwardly a short distance from the forward portion 12, is a depression or groove 31, parallel with said forward portion 12, of plate 10, and slightly longer than the cam. Upon the said lower surface of plate 10, extending around the sides and ends of groove 31, is an outward cast portion or enlargement 32, slightly increasing the depth of groove 31. In the flange 2a, of plate 10, upon a line extending transversely to plate 10 and to the groove 31 is a cone-shaped opening 33.

3 1 indicates the locking key required to lock the device when the lid is in place in the vault opening, and having an end socket 343.

In securing the lid in the opening the cone-shaped end 26 is inserted through the staples 22 and 23, and within the coneshaped opening 33, in the flange 24, of the covering plate 10. In this position of the rod or bar 25, the eccentric cam 27 is above the groove 31, in the position as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The end of the key having the socket 349 is applied in the rectangular end-portion 30, of the rod 25, and rotation imparted to the rod, in which movement of the eccentric cam one curved end portion comes into contact with the bottom of grooves 31, causing the outer portion of rod 25 to spring outwardly into the dotted position seen in Fig. 3, and from this point of the rotation the application of considerable power is required to complete the rotation of the eccentric cam and seat the same within the groove 31, upon the full movement of which cam the flat portion 29 bears upon the bottom of the groove 31, relieving the tension on the bar or rod 25, and locking the rod firmly, and preventing movement of the lid 20. In unlocking, the turning of the cam 27 is made, until the flat portion 29 is uppermost in position,

It will be observed that the rod 25 can not be operated by any other implement than the key, for the reason that the opening to the catch-basin in a vertical line is but a short distance, and the application of power must be such as to unlock the eccentric cam, and its operation requiring considerable power to-turn the key. hen the rod or bar 25 is secured in position and the cam is locked in the groove, the outward force exerted by the eccentric cam draws upon the staples 22 and 23, hence retaining the lid firmly within the opening 16, in the covering plate to the catch-basin.

The advantages of the fastening are not only in its simplicity and cheapness of construction, but that of affording a locking means, which can not be tampered with exceptby one having a key of the proper kind, and should the opening of the lid 20 be required, dampness or moisture will have no effect in preventing the operation of unlocking the eccentric cam and the subsequent raising of the lid.

In the old form of covering plat-es for catch basins also in use, there is no provision for aslot in which the eccentric cam may be inserted, the construction being as seen in Fig. 6. In the application of the invention to the old form of covering plate, the eccentric cam is arranged between the two bosses 35 and 36, as seen in Fig. 6, the latter having the rabbet for the bed 37. In order to prevent the outward movement of the eccentric cam 38, on the securing rod 39, afforded by the groove 31, as seen in Fig. 2, a lug 40 is arranged on the outer end of the securing rod 39, adjacent the inner surface of the boss and which is constructed and arranged as seen in Fig. 8. When the cam 33 is turned to engage the lower surface of the plate, the lug bears against the boss 35, and resists outward movement of the eccentric cam, but upon a release of the cam, its position as seen in Fig. 7 permits the withdrawal of the securing rod 39. When the openings in the covering plates are without rabbets, and the lid 41 held within the manhole by the securing rod, as seen in Fig. 8. an additional staple 11, on the covering plate adjacent the opening 16, enables both ends of the rod to support the lid in lieu of the rabbets on the covering plate 10, seen in- Figs. 1 and 2.

The 1nvent1on, 1n view of the many accidents arising from misplaced hds upon the manholes, affords security for the lid, at

minimum cost, and with advantages of greater security and safety and for the public safeguard.

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to various closures, wherever its application is required, and whether hinged or otherwise.

Such changes in construction and modifications may be employed as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described our invention,

what we now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In fastenings for closures the combination with a covering plate having an opening and a lid to said opening of a rotatable lid securing spring rod or bar, means on said lid for holding the ends of the rod during rotation and an eccentric locking cam upon said rod adapted to impart tension to the rod when said cam is in a locking po sition.

2. In fastenings for closures the comb-ination with a covering plate having an opening and a lid to said opening of a rotatable lid securing spring rod or bar, bearings for each end of said rod or bar upon said lid, and an eccentric cam at one end of said rod or bar adapted to impart tension thereto when said cam is in a locking position.

3. In fastenings for lids to manholes, in covering plates to catchbasins, the combination with said covering plate and lid, of a longitudinal securing spring rod, means on the lower surface of the covering plate with which the inner end of the rod engages rotatably, bearings on the inner surfaces of the lid through which the rod extends, and an eccentric locking cam for the outer end of said rod or bar adapted when in a locking position to engage with the adjacent surface of the covering plate.

4. The combination with a covering plate to catch-basins having a manhole, a lid covering said opening, a rotatable lid securing spring rod, bearings on the lower surface of the lid through which said rod extends, engaging means for the inner end of the rod on the lower surface of the plate, within which said end of the rod is adapted to be rotated, and an eccentric cam upon the outer end of the rod, adapted to impart tension to the rod when the cam is in a locking p0 sition, and means for operating said rod.

5. The combination with a covering plate to catch-basins having a manhole, a lid therefor, bearings on the lower surface of the lid, a lid securing spring rod extending through said bearings, perforated supporting means on the inner surface of the covering plate for the inner end of said rod within which said rod is adapted to be rotated, said covering plate having a depression or groove beneath the outer end of said rod, and a detachable eccentric cam on the outer end of said rod movable within said groove.

6. The combination with a covering plate to catch-basins having a manhole, a lid therefor, bearings secured to the lower surface of the lid, a flange on the lower surface of the covering plate having a perforation therein, a lid securing rod having an inner conical end portion extending through said bearings and within the perforation in said flange, an eccentric cam upon the outer end of the said lid securing rod, said covering plate having a groove or depression adapted to secure said cam, and means for rotating said lid securing rod.

JAMES ARMSTRONG. ARTHUR F. SMITH. Witnesses F. D. GLoRn, ANNIE L. GREEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. C. 

